Page 26 - Australian Defence Magazine September 2018

DEFENCE BUSINESS
WIDA
ADM AIMS TO DO BETTER ON DIVERSITY
KATHERINE ZIESING | CANBERRA
I have been with the ADM team for over a decade now, most of them as Editor, now as Managing Editor. ADM is owned by Yaffa Media, Australia’s largest independently family owned and operated media company.
We are but one title amongst a stable of brands. I have been lucky in the fact that my predecessor, Judy Hinz, took a chance on me years ago, fresh from university and Managing Director Tracy Yaffa in turn supported her decision.
I also work with a number of tal- ented women in my organisation at the highest levels and throughout the company. Yaffa Media has supported me through two kids, a masters de- gree at UNSW@ADFA and allows me to work as flexibly as I need to deliver all the ADM products you see on your desk, in your email and online.
The success of the Women in De- fence Awards has made me look at my own professional journey in a different light. What have we been doing to sup- port diversity in what you read from us?
Looking through the list of From the Source interviewees since 2009 gave me pause for thought. Of the 111 in depth interviews conducted over this period (which I conducted or commis- sioned), 2009-2018, guess how many were women? Four. That’s it. FOUR. And two of them happened this year.
This is not good enough. I will be actively working to change this from now on, to include more top perform- ing women in this format.
ADM runs a number of events through the year; Congress, Defence Estate and Infrastructure, STEM and Defence in the North. Working with our conference partner Informa, all ADM events will have minimum 30 per cent female speakers on the agenda.
I am adding two new questions to ADM’s Top 40 Defence Contactors survey this year; what percentage of your workforce is female and do you have a reconciliation action plan or similar policy in place?
I’m looking forward to seeing how industry responds this year and see- ing what diversity trends can be spot- ted as the data builds, year on year.
You can’t be it if you can’t see it. Prepare to see it.
“Indeed I hold firmly to the view that if you can’t see it, you can’t be it. Or it’s certainly so much harder to be it.”
L-R: MC and #NOW movement leader Tracy Spicer, Women in Defence Awards patron Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne and ADM Managing Editor Katherine Ziesing.
The inaugural Women in Defence Awards (WIDA), hosted by MC Tracy Spicer, saw seven women honoured for their remarkable contributions to De- fence and industry at a gala event in Canberra.
ADM would also like to acknowledge three Highly Commended women for their outstanding work in their respec- tive fields with Belinda Taylor of Noakes Group for Project Management, Rachel Harch of Nova Systems for Engineering and Squadron Leader Amanda Banks a registered nurse from the RAAF in a Technical Trade also recognised. These three women straddled more than one category with their achievements and the judges wanted to highlight that fact.
Also in attendance were 12 other final- ists nominated by friends and colleagues in each of the above categories, plus a wide range of industry and Defence
26 | September 2018 | www.australiandefence.com.au
ADM - LEIGH ATKINSON
ADM - LEIGH ATKINSON